Literacy

The latest news, analysis and best practice advice when it comes to literacy, from recent research and how to implement it to new guidance and what it means

Wednesday

30th Apr 2025

The teen reading crisis - and the plan to start fixing it
Too many teenagers don’t have the reading skills to access the curriculum, but Professor Jessie Ricketts is on a mission to change that
No entry sign

Friday

4th Apr 2025

Sats: Scrutiny over transcripts fuels rise in alleged cheating
Increase in cases of alleged maladministration has been fuelled by concerns over transcripts for pupils with illegible handwriting and test administrators ‘over-aiding’
Sats ‘maladministration’ up by 58% over two years
Exclusive

Tuesday

1st Apr 2025

What we keep getting wrong about reading and parents
There are unhelpful assumptions about families baked in to our reading guidance, writes Megan Dixon, so we must question these whenever we find them
Parent and child reading together

Thursday

13th Mar 2025

Aphantasia: education’s blind spot in teaching reading
What is it like to learn to read when you can’t make mental pictures? It’s an issue more educators should be aware of, argues Professor Julia Thomas
Artist with blank canvas

Tuesday

11th Mar 2025

Worsening speech and language skills make teaching more difficult, study finds
Nearly half of primary teachers say more pupils are struggling to communicate at the expected level for their age
Worsening speech and language skills make teaching more difficult, study finds

Tuesday

25th Feb 2025

Podcasts in class could tackle reading ‘crisis’
Children’s enjoyment of listening to audio has now surpassed that of reading, finds survey
Child listening to audio in library

Monday

24th Feb 2025

EEF trials 5-day Shakespeare training for primary teachers
The training is one part of 11 research projects the Education Endowment Foundation has launched to build evidence in writing and secondary maths
Skull and Shakespeare mug full of pencils

Tuesday

18th Feb 2025

We need to keep an open mind about the root of reading difficulties
There is still an unhelpful reluctance to accept that many children will have additional needs around reading, says Megan Dixon
Girl surrounded by books

Sunday

16th Feb 2025

How to improve verbal skills in EYFS
The impact of developing confidence around talk is enormous, writes Julian Grenier – so how can we help our youngest learners in this vital area?
How to improve verbal skills in EYFS

Tuesday

11th Feb 2025

What impact could phonics-first approaches have in Scotland?
Scotland is at a crossroads with literacy and should fully implement systematic synthetic phonics, says Darren Leslie
Phonics cards
Reading: how a ‘stage not age’ approach transformed our school
In a small rural primary school, shifting to a more individualised approach to reading instruction has had a remarkable impact, writes principal Lynsey Slater
Two children reading a book on a statue

Thursday

6th Feb 2025

How to bring the fun back to reading after phonics
As the dust settles on damning findings about the effectiveness of phonics, Michelle Windridge offers her tips for getting back to a more holistic approach
How to bring the fun back to reading after phonics